European Commission: the Construction of the Nord Stream 2 is already Tough to Stop

This was stated by the representative of the European Union Budget Commissioner Guenther Oettinger, commenting on the position of the U.S. president on this issue. U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline for pumping gas from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea is no reason to stop the project. Any attempts to prevent construction would be difficult now that it is being built, said of the European Union Budget Commissioner Guenther Oettinger in December 28. Trump has attacked Berlin for supporting the $11 billion gas pipeline spanning the Baltic Sea, accusing Germany in July of being a “captive” of Russia due to its reliance on Russian energy. U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said last month that Washington retained the option of imposing sanctions on companies working on the pipeline, involved in building of the Nord Stream 2. “I was never a great supporter of Nord Stream 2”. But the truth is the pipeline has long been under construction and can no longer so easily be stopped”, said Oettinger in an interview with Der Spiegel. He added, that “Trump’s threats are no reason for that”. Washington is concerned that the pipeline, which will bypass Ukraine by running under the Baltic Sea, will strip Ukraine of important transit revenue and says Moscow is using the project to divide Europe. Source: Voice of America